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Photos: Tesla 1.5

Tesla launched its much ballyhooed electric sports car earlier this year with a two-speed gearbox. The company has since refined its transmission to eliminate that complexity, dubbing its new Tesla's power train version 1.5. We got to check out the showroom, assembly plant, and take the car for a spin.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
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Tesla badge

Acknowledging the high cost of electric drive components and batteries, Tesla Motors' first car is a premium-priced, high-performance, electric roadster. We got a chance to test drive one fitted with version 1.5 of the power train. This new power train eliminates the two-speed gearbox from the originally launched car, replacing it with a single speed transmission.
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Body by Lotus

Tesla uses bodies and chassis built by British car-maker Lotus. The carbon fiber body panels are manufactured in France, then sent to the Lotus plant in England to be fitted to the car's chassis. When the bodies are shipped to Tesla's factory, they have no power trains.
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Lotus handling

Lotus is known for building cars with precision handling, which carries over into the Tesla Roadster. During our test drive, we noticed the car had a heavier feel, but still felt tight. The short wheelbase ensures good cornering, and the car also has traction control.
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Battery pack and motor

The 990 pound battery pack sits right behind the cabin, helping the car maintain good fore and aft weight distribution. On top of that powerpack is a power control module that governs electricity flow and performance. There is a little trunk space, enough for a golf bag, behind the battery. The electric motor powers the rear wheels, giving the car 248 horsepower.
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Tesla cockpit

Just like in a Lotus, the cockpit of the Tesla Roadster is a little cramped, requiring some contortion for ingress and egress. An open roadster top makes it easier. The seats are manually adjustable, but the steering column can't be moved. Ride quality is surprisingly good, suggesting that Tesla specified a softer suspension than you would normally get in a low sports car like this.
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Tachometer in an electric car

The small sport steering wheel sits in front of an instrument cluster that includes a speedometer and tachometer, the latter a surprise to find in an electric car. The car's motor has a redline of 14,000rpm, but you won't ever run over that limit, as the power control module keeps the motor from over-revving.
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Gearless shifter

The thin console includes climate controls, and houses the shifter. In older Teslas, the shift pattern would have a 1 and 2, for the two-speed gearbox, but with version 1.5 of the power train, you only need Drive, Neutral, and Reverse. The electric motor runs fine at speeds from 5mph up to the top governed speed of 125mph. This shifter is more of a cosmetic piece, as it doesn't control any mechanical elements.
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Premioum audio

With the premium audio option, you get a JVC KD-NX5000 single-DIN navigation and stereo unit, which also includes Bluetooth cell phone integration. We previously reviewed this JVC unit, and were impressed enough to give it our Editors' Choice award.
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Menu screen

This small touch screen sits down by the driver's left knee. Here it shows the main menu when the car is stopped. Touch the wrench icon and you can choose different running modes, such as Performance and Range. Each mode will alter the car's range, acceleration, and speed to achieve specific performance goals. When the car is moving, this screen can show a power usage gauge.
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Charging screen

When the car is plugged in, this screen shows the battery status, along with range information. You can set the car to charge at specific times to take advantage of off-peak electricity rates.
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Plug-in

The Tesla has a plug-in port on its rear cabin pillar, accommodating a special three-pin plug. When the car is charging, an amber light pulses around the battery port. This light is more than just cosmetic, though, as it also turns green when it is okay to plug the car in.
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Charging station

Tesla provides this charging station with the car. It can be installed in a garage and charges the Tesla's battery up in 3.5 hours. If you were to charge the Tesla on a standard 110 AC outlet, it would take around 30 hours.
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Tesla store

Tesla modeled its retail facility after Apple's stores, and prefers the term "store" rather than "showroom." Instead of franchising, Tesla will retain ownership of all future stores. The current Tesla store is in Menlo Park, California, and a New York City store will open up in the next few months. Other prospective locations include Miami, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
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Color and fabric choices

Tesla offers a number of color choices for its cars, with options for metallic or custom paint. You can also opt for microfiber or premium leather seats, with different color choices.
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Factory floor

Tesla cars sit on the factory floor in various states of assembly. They arrive from Lotus without power trains. In the factory, workers install the battery pack, electric motor, and any other parts needed for a particular order. Tesla has a large back order list, as the car generated a lot of excitement even before it was in production.
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The real Tesla motors

These motors sit on a work bench, waiting to be installed in cars. Each one produces 248 horsepower and can push a Tesla Roadster up to a governed 125mph, and make 60mph from a stop in 3.9 seconds.
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Battery pack

This 400 volt lithium ion battery pack contains thousands of cylindrical cells. It weighs 990 pounds, accounting for almost a third of the car's weight. It will be installed behind the cabin of the car.
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Shifter a la carte

In the factory, we spotted this shifter and console assembly. Its underside is all wires and plugs, as the shifter doesn't connect to a mechanical gearbox.

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